Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-02-15
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TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 10.
The New YOrk Ntrike.

The New York Assembly strike commit
zee continued its session in New York Sat
urday. ". A. a. Carsey testified that be
.7as one of the original members of the first
assembly of tie knights of Labor. 1t wss
formed to unite all laboring men in every
trade for the purpose Of political action He
was acquainted with all,the leaders of the
order from Powderly down, and there vas
not one of them who did not approve oil po-
litical action and consider strikes TO be
wrong. Strikes were not got up by the Or
der, but by independent district assem- pies,
who, when they ordered the strike, had Tue
power to call on the General Assembly 10
conduct it. The order was now, IL his
opinion, more of q mob than an organlza-
ton. District 40 derived lis power froU the
district assemblies which composed II, aud
not from the order The walking delegate
of each district assembly had the power to
order strike without consulting his assem-
bly. Money was raised by regular and spe-
cial assessments. The regular assessments
varied from % to so cents per week. Walk
ing delegates received from $500 to $1,000
per year. In each district there is q court,
consisting of presiding judge and asso-
ciates. They try ali charges against
Knights of Labor, and members have
been expelled By them. Referring to
the political objects of the order, Mr.. Car
sey said that in some sections of the coun-
try, politics was tabooed from the assem-
blies. but generally it was intended to main
tain the balance of power in politics. Ihelr
first victory was in the election OF mayor
of Camden, n. j. and an effort bad been
made 10, liz q measure, control OF elect POI
itics, and the knights o. Labor had moi op-
position almost f, on IL BIRTH. In New lcrk
the Central Labor Union constantly oppos-
ed the knights
COL LeGrand B. Cannon, acting president
of the Delaware and Hudson Coal and
Canal Co.. said that the company men had
been in its employ from five 10 twenty years,
and about sixty five of them went on strike
in Weehawken without aHy call or notice.
The average prices paid during he past Six
months were Sal SO per mOn.A tor shoveers,
S4S.75 for transfer men, and seven cents per
ION fov trimmers No attention was pSiG
BY the companies to Inc agreements he
tween them last year The Reading Com
pany, ne instsnced, sold nearly hve hundred
thousand tons more than liz quota. Coz.
Cannon believed that il workingmen we're
satisfied they would DE cared for when old
age or disability overlook them they would
be contented, end ne believed 10 . COM
pulsory annuity law whereby corporations
would be compelled to take care OF
their disabled employees. The employee
would thus have q personal interest in the
success of the concern. Compulsory arbitra-
ton be opposed because 1t WAS impracticE-
BILE. The Delaware and Hudson woald not
employ union man, because union men
were not free He believed in free men
free to work or be idle. and TO work for
whom, when, where ne liked, and 10Y what
price ne liked He would have every man
given an opportunity to show and TO dovel'
op his skill The union would rot allow
any OF these things.
J. B. Ryan, a reporter, who has made a
study of the causes of the strike and is aim
self a Knight Of Labor, said the occasion q
the present strike WAS primarily a rednc'
ton OF wages in one company and the prob
able reduction would follow ar.Cng i;s CON
petito1s, but back of all this was feeling O
dissatisfaction of long standing. Dissatis
faction came through the introduction o.
machinery and inferior and cheaper labor il
place of skilled labor. Many of the men
Joined the strike because their employers
were acting as auxilaries and aids to the
employers against whom the strike was in
Id